Tea Party group opposes Warren County increasing its lodging tax

What do you think about this?

@@facebook=

@@

LEBANON — Warren County should not get in the sports business, according to a group of local Tea Party members.

The residents oppose a proposed 20-year, 1 percent increase in the county’s lodging or “bed” tax to develop a $7 million sports complex in Turtlecreek Twp. Nearly two dozen people expressed their concerns to Warren County Commission last week.

Ohio law already allows counties to charge up to 3 percent for the lodging tax that finances a county’s convention and visitors bureau, which is a non-profit corporation. Any increases over that needs the approval of the Ohio General Assembly. Eleven counties have received this legislative approval in the past.

Warren County has requested to increase its tax to 4 percent.

Phil Smith, president and chief executive officer of the Warren County CVB, said the project designed to increase its sports events programs which will increase the number of visitors to the county.

“The new facility would allow us to break the bottleneck we have to attract more events to the county,” Smith said.

The project would have 12 soccer/lacrosse fields, eight baseball/softball diamonds and a concession area on land across from Armco Park on Ohio 741 that is owned by Otterbein Retirement Community Lebanon.

Smith said the project would be financed through the tax increase and the Port Authority of Warren County would issue bonds to develop the property. The debt would not be the county’s responsibility as the Port Authority is a separate entity.

If it is completed, Smith said the current economic impact of $36 million from the sports events would increase to more than $77 million for the county’s economy.

Smith estimates the complex would add another 590 tourism-related jobs, about $14.3 million in personal earnings; and increase sales tax revenues for the state at $1.2 million; about $213,000 for the county; and as much as $400,000 in revenues to be shared by Lebanon, Mason, Franklin, Springboro, Middletown, Monroe and Deerfield Twp.

The project is supported by 85 percent of the county’s hotels and motels as well as by the county commission, Turtlecreek Twp. and Lebanon, Smith said.

“If I had a dollar for every slide show I’ve seen, I’d be on my own island with my own government,” said Ray Warrick, a Mason resident and Tea Party member. “I don’t think you’ll ever see those numbers and I’d bet you any amount of money you’ll never see those numbers.”

“I don’t think government should be promoting sporting events,” he said. “This didn’t change my mind and we respectfully ask you to reconsider.”

Warrick said he’d prefer to see such a proposal put on the November ballot.

Tourism is the county’s largest industry and generates nearly $900 million and employs 10,500 people in tourism-related jobs. The county attracted 7.9 million visitors in 2010, according to the CVB.

“This isn’t for local people,” Smith said. “It’s for outside people to come here and spend money.”

Another resident, Norma J. Sears of Maineville, said “it’s unbelievable how empty the parking lots are at Kings Island. They’re not coming.”

Sears said there were many vacant buildings and other facilities in Florida that had been built in anticipation of increased tourism.

Resident Frank Miller asked “if this is such a good thing, why can’t you get a private corporation to do it?”

“I see this as a financing mechanism to do more business in the county,” said Commissioner David Young.

He said people coming to Warren County are making the choice to participate in events and spend money.

“This is a hotel bailout,” said Robert Waters of Lebanon. “Jobs in the tourism industry are low paying jobs. How many Anglo Americans are working at these hotels? How many are foreign nationals?”

Waters said the county should focus on bringing in more manufacturing jobs.

Commission President Pat South said the county is working to bring in new industries. She said 60 percent of the sales taxes generated were paid by people who live outside of the county.

South said if the legislature approves the increase, public hearings would be held before its collected.

“We’re going to stay on this,” Warrick said. “We shouldn’t be in the sports venue business.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or erichter@coxohio.com.